OCSA Blog

OCSA Champions: Deborah Lakamp, CAE and Dr. Tracy Myers

In celebration of the 133rd Annual ISVMA convention taking place in Springfield, Illinois October 23-25, 2015, meet October One Health Champions ISVMA Executive Director Deborah Lakamp and ISVMA President Tracy Myers, DVM.

Deborah Lakamp, CAE, accepted the leadership role at the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association in the spring of 2015. She brings over 25 years of association management experience to her role as executive director. Her background includes service in the agriculture, business, industry, social services and law enforcement professions.

One Health Conversation in her own words: “One Health initiatives are the type of research, medicine and sharing that allows physicians and veterinarians to help both our human and fur family live healthier and longer lives. As a breast cancer survivor, I know that my diagnosis and treatment were more efficient and effective as is my preventative care in the future as a result of collaborations in the One Health arena.”

Dr. Tracy Myers, current president of the ISVMA, was born in Clarence, Missouri and raised on a row crop and swine farm. She graduated from the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine in May 1998. She joined Whitney Veterinary Hospital in 2004. She has special interests in surgery and preventative medicine.

One Health Conversation in her own words: “Having taken care of thousands of large and small animals, it is amazing how similar animal and human health concerns occur in parallel tracks. Exploring and sharing our expertise between the two professions is a bright spot in the future as it will likely lead to advances for animal and human health. I am excited to be part of a profession that is looking at the whole picture of human and animal health, the factors that influence health and, ultimately, the expanded options and cures we can offer our patients in the future.”

We treasure our partnership with the ISVMA first introduced in 2010 by OCSA’s Veterinary Outreach Program (VOP) member Dr. Rosemary LoGuidice. Many along the way have helped forge this partnership including Brenda Weber, who was organizing the annual ISVMA Convention that year, and former executive director of the ISVMA, Peter Weber, MS, CAE whose professional staff included the current Executive Director Deborah Lakamp.

OCSA Board member Kristin Junkas, DVM will make a presentation at the convention this year on Sunday, October 25 entitled Practicing with a “One Health” State of Mind. Dr. Junkas says, “Veterinarians are more than just medical providers for our animal patients. We impact our patient’s families in broader ways than sometimes we are even aware. As we care for the pets which we took an oath to serve on a daily basis, it is apparent that veterinarians can be part of a one health approach which encompasses diseases that affect both the animals as well as their human caregivers. We may also indirectly serve as guides to encourage owners to be more aware of their own health and well-being by pro-actively promoting preventative care and management of illnesses in our animal patients as demonstrated by this collaboration between the St. Charles, IL based Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness Organization and its innovative Veterinary Outreach Program.”